The Spine View – Page 11 – My Life as a Bibliophile

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

Pub. Date: 25-Jun-2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars

I was in the mood for a fun, light read and that is exactly what I got with The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan. The story is uplifting and warm, that centers around the meaning of family with a dash of romance and a little mystery thrown in. It made for a lovely reading experience, total escapism.

Zoe is a young mother living in a tiny flat in London with her son Hari. Hari’s father is mostly absent from their lives and provides no financial support. She is barely getting by and is one disaster away from being homeless.

Despite her circumstances, Zoe is determined to provide the best she can for Hari. Therefore, when she sees an ad for a nanny to three children in Scotland she jumps at the chance. Her hope is this will provide a more stable home life for Hari. In addition to the job as nanny, she also takes a day job running a mobile bookshop for a mother-to-be who is confined to bed rest until her baby is born.

She quickly finds that both jobs are more than she bargained for. The book van’s patrons are reluctant to buy from someone other than Nina the van’s owner. This forces Zoe to get creative in order to keep the business afloat. The 3 children she is nanny to had been described as “gifted” when “troubled” would have been a much better word to use. How will she make all of this work?

I adored the quirky characters. It seemed that even the minor characters had something unusual, or flawed, about them that endeared them to me. Either as in the case of Zoe, her intelligence that I felt hindered her common sense sometimes and, at times, left her unsure of herself, to Nina’s obsessiveness. I admired Zoe’s resilience and that she was unflappable. She had to be in order to tackle all the challenges she faced. I do wish I had understood Ramsey a little better. I know this book was not his story, yet I could not help wanting to know just a little more about him.

The plot was not the strongest I have read, but there was enough tension to keep me reading. I found myself wanting to know how Zoe was to going to handle Ramsey’s brood of hellions. I almost excepted them to play nasty tricks on Zoe, like put a snake in her bed. Some of what they did I thought was rather mild. The pacing of the plot was good and there was one revelation at the end I was not expecting that gave a little spice to the story.

Overall this is a solid feel good story and I recommend this lovely gem to readers of all kinds, especially those who like books that fall into the Women’s Fiction genre and Romance. Also, if you are looking for a beach read this book would be a perfect choice.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

The Bowes Inheritance by Pam Lecky

Guest Review by J.A. Miller:

The Bowes Inheritance, by Pam Lecky, has all the elements of a great book: compelling characters, a riveting plot, subplots that twist and turn, romance, intrigue, heartache and surprises. Set in Dublin and England in the late 1800’s, the story revolves around two impoverished sisters who inherit an estate in England – and all the unexpected drama that comes with it – from an uncle they never knew existed. I loved the book and so will you.

Book Blurb:

Dublin 1882: When determined but impoverished Louisa Campbell inherits a large estate in the north of England, from an uncle she didn’t even know existed, it appears to be the answer to her prayers. Her younger sister, Eleanor, is gravely ill, and believing that the country air will benefit her, they decide to take up residence at Bowes Farm, situated on the Cumberland coast.

However, they soon realise that all they have inherited is trouble. Their uncle had managed to alienate almost everyone in the area and worst of all, was suspected of being a Fenian activist. His reputation leaves Louisa and Eleanor battling to gain acceptance in polite society, especially with Nicholas Maxwell, their handsome neighbour and local magistrate. His father was cheated out of the farm during a card game fifteen years before and he is determined to get the property back.

Louisa unearths secrets from their family’s past that threaten their future while the spectre of their mysterious benefactor overshadows everything. When a Fenian bombing campaign comes close to home, Louisa finds herself a chief suspect and must fight to clear her name. She must dig deep to find the courage to solve the mysteries that Bowes Farm holds before their lives are destroyed. And most importantly of all, will she be able to finally trust and love the man who is surely her sworn enemy?

John Anthony Miller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a father of English ancestry and a second-generation Italian mother. Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, he normally sets his novels in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the external influences spawned by tumultuous times. He’s the author of the historical thrillers, To Parts Unknown, In Satan’s Shadow, When Darkness Comes, and All the King’s Soldiers, as well as the historical mystery, Honour the Dead. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

You know it is going to be good if Philippa Gregory wrote it and she did not disappoint me with her latest book Tidelands, the first book in the Fairmile series. She always brings a well appreciated level of intimacy to her characters that I adore.

The main character, Alinor, is a young mother of two living on the southern coast of England in a place that is remote and backwards. Her abusive husband has been missing for a year now. This is fine by her except in those days a women without a husband was looked upon with suspension. Couple this with her ability as a midwife and herbalist and she runs the risks of being called a witch.

It seems that an encounter with a young Catholic priest, who is a Royalist, whom she hides and assists in reaching the local Lord’s estate, has changed her outlook for the better. The Lord, in his gratitude for her assistance and for her silence, has given her son a position as companion to his son. He will receive a stipend and be educated along with the Lord’s son. The money will allow Alinor to purchase a boat she desperately needs and be the beginnings of a dowry for her daughter.

Alinor can’t keep thinking about this young priest and him about her. As you can expect, this leads to dangerous things and this is not the time to be someone like Alinor and doing dangerous things. There are those who are jealous of her good fortune and her natural beauty; therefore, it is not long before this good fortune turns against her.

My favorite thing about this book, well any book by Ms. Gregory, are the characters. Not only does she present the reader with a character(s) that we can connect and empathize with, she makes them appropriate to the place and time period. This brings an extra layer of depth that few authors achieve and Alinor is no exception to this. She is strong and resourceful, yet there is something fragile about her. She has been ground down by the burdens upon her and you fear it will not take much to push her beyond recovery.

I kept reminding myself that during this time it was the fate of women to be dependent upon men for almost everything. I find this a peculiar position for Alinor to be in, given that women, in lots of cases, had to be stronger than the men they were dependent upon. Alinor, and ultimately, her daughter too reflect this.

I liked the plot. I can’t say it was the strongest Ms. Gregory has ever written, but it was solid. I did find the middle section a little slow. Ultimately I had a feeling something was going to happen so I continued on and was rewarded with an intriguing twist at the end I was not expecting. In addition, there is a fairly large cliffhanger at the end. It made me wish for more closure before we move on to the next chapter in Alinor’s life.

As a whole I found this an enjoyable story and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction. Especially those you love strong female characters and are fans of the author’s other books.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Iron Magicians: The Search for the Magic Crystals by Citrix, Yuio

I picked up this interactive comic book at BookExpo this year. Comics are not normally my thing but this one looked intriguing. Glad that I did! It was fun, imaginative and I enjoyed playing through it (which I did several times with different outcomes).

It is a fantasy quest set in 19^th century Paris. You are tasked with finding 30 power crystals and are instructed to bring them to the Eiffel Tower in order to complete it and make the city safe. You choose what character you wish to be and start your quest by choosing a numbered door. Then you find the corresponding number within the comic panels and follow the instructions.

Simple enough, but it does take a little time to get up to speed on how to play. I liked that you could make your own choices and are not stuck with just one outcome. I tried not writing everything down at first. Big mistake! I could not keep straight what tools I had acquired or how many crystals I had unless I kept a tally. At the beginning is a few pages for the reader/player to use in tracking all the “stuff”.

The illustrations were fabulous and done much better than your normal comic. The pages were glossy and extra thick to allow for the abuse the comic will get over its lifetime as kids play and replay the quest. I was not fond of the idea of using a crayon as a spinner for the wheel found in the back that you cut out. As suggested, I opted for using dice and found this more to my liking.

The major negative is the flipping, flipping and flipping of pages as you are constantly being directed to a new panel. Once I got used to it the quest played smoothly. It just took me a little bit to adjust to the non-comic book format of going to the next panel in order.

I received a free copy in exchange for honest review.

A Hero Born by Jin Yong, translated by Anna Holmwood

This was billed as an epic tale, a Chinese LOTR, and I was excited to get an opportunity to read it. My excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Not only was it nothing like LOTR but the prose was awkward at best. I fear that a lot of its luster was lost in the translation process. Despite three separate attempts, this is a DNF for me at 27% complete.

The other main flaw for me was the lack of character development. There is plenty of action which was the best part of the story. However, the action scenes where not written well enough to overcome the flaws. I never was invested in this story and it become more and more laborious the further along I read.

I received a free copy form the publisher in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.

Normally I would write a short synapsis. Since I did not finish, I am leaving you with the blurb for the book below.

The Song Empire has been invaded by its warlike Jurchen neighbours from the north. Half its territory and its historic capital lie in enemy hands; the peasants toil under the burden of the annual tribute demanded by the victors. Meanwhile, on the Mongolian steppe, a disparate nation of great warriors is about to be united by a warlord whose name will endure for eternity: Genghis Khan.

Guo Jing, son of a murdered Song patriot, grew up with Genghis Khan’s army. He is humble, loyal, perhaps not altogether wise, and is fated from birth to one day confront an opponent who is the opposite of him in every way: privileged, cunning and flawlessly trained in the martial arts.

Guided by his faithful shifus, The Seven Heroes of the South, Guo Jing must return to China – to the Garden of the Drunken Immortals in Jiaxing – to fulfil his destiny. But in a divided land riven by war and betrayal, his courage and his loyalties will be tested at every turn.

Contagion by Teri Terry

Contagion by Teri Terry is a dystopian YA Sci-Fi story set in the near future. The story totally took me by surprise. I loved every minute of it. A deadly virus grown in a lab that escapes, people who have special abilities after being infected, a ghost set on revenge, it all worked so well.

The story begins in an underground research facility in Shetland, UK. Where a group of researchers are working on a cure for cancer. Callie, subject 369X, is being “cured” which results in her death. Instead of moving on to the afterlife she becomes a ghost. Shortly after her death an explosion occurs in the underground facility and the facility is destroyed in the fire that follows. This allows a deadly virus, later named the Aberdeen Flu, to be released.

Meanwhile, Shay, a typical teen except for her photograph memory, has her eye caught by a flyer of a missing girl. Turns out she saw the girl on the day she went missing. Shay calls the number on the flyer and later meets Kai the missing girl’s older brother. This missing girl in none other than Callie. Unfortunately, Shay is not able to provide must assistance to Kai since she only saw Callie briefly. However, they do form a bond.

By now the virus is wreaking havoc all over Scotland. Ever containment line the government sets seems useless and the virus is spreading like wildfire. This “flu” is so deadly it kills 95% of those infected within 24 hours. There are a lucky few who are immune. Those that do survive are changed and either kill themselves or are hunted down by the government.

While Kai is one of the lucky immune, Shay is infected and becomes a survivor. Shortly after her recovery Shay discovers that she can talk to the dead, including Callie. Together the three set out to discover what really happened in Shetland.

Fantastic story! Usually the characters are my favorite part of a story. Not so this time, I was pulled into the story from the start. I especially liked that it was not far-fetched and I feel something like this is plausible. The execution of the plot was spot on, fast paced but not rushed so there was a slow buildup of tension as the story progressed. There were a couple of twists to the plot I was not expecting and some hints about what is to come… I think. Then there is the cliff hanger, of course.

The characters are good too. There was a fair amount of character development which never fails to surprise me in an action novel. I crave a story that lets me understand and connect to the characters. Each of the three main characters has a distinct voice and yet the story is told through the eyes of the female characters only. It was an interesting way of seeing things. The author did a good job of connecting it all together so it flowed seamlessly. The only negative, I have to wait to read the next book!

I highly recommend this book to fans of near future Sci-Fi and YA Sci-Fi stories. There are a few scenes that maybe disturbing to the younger readers. Nothing overly graphic but the story does contain mild violence and the subject matter some may find unsettling.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Malamander by Thomas Taylor

Malamander by Thomas Taylor is a magical middle grade fantasy story that will sweep you up. The author has created an imaginative world with interesting and endearing characters that is sure to please any age reader. Hands down the best middle grade book I read this year.

Herbert Lemon, aka Herbie, is the Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel that is part of the small community of Eerie-on-the-Sea. When an item is left or lost at the hotel it comes to Herbie and it is his job to reunite the lost item with the owner. He sees all kinds of lost items including one Violet Parma who one winter’s day slips in through the hotel’s cellar window. Violet may just be the most unusual thing in Herbie’s collection of unusual things.

Violet has come in search of her parents that went missing when she was a baby, while guests at the hotel. She tells Herbie that she has come hundreds of miles to enlist his help finding her parents. When Herbie insists, he is a finder of lost things not lost people, she rebuffs him saying he is a “detective” and the only one she knows who can help her.

Of course, with Violet comes a lot of things not the least of which is the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. There is the man with the hook that is after her for unknown reasons and the monster, called Malamander, that appears on the beach at night in winter. These are just two more of the mysteries surrounding her. Herbie will have to be a very good detective to figure out this puzzle.

Love this story! It has an interesting plot with enough twists to hold any readers’ attention. The magical elements that abound in the book are many and include a mermonkey who tells you what book to read at the local book store and there is Lady Kraken’s, the hotel owner, cameraluna that she uses to see what is happening in town and a host of interesting people to round out the plot.

The characters were very well done, especially so for the intended audience. Herbie and Violet are just the type of characters that will have you cheering for them. The supporting ones, such as Mrs. Hanniver owner of the Eerie Book Dispensary, lend the story more mystery and allure and enhance the plot to perfection.

This is the perfect story for middle graders and adults alike. So entertaining and the magical astrosphere in the book along with the characters make for an outstanding book. It is age appropriate for all readers and I highly recommend to all lovers of magical adventure tales.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Traitor of Treasure Island Blog Tour

BLURB

Buried for over 300 years and now brought triumphantly to light by Dr Livesay, this is, at last, the true story of what happened on the fateful Treasure Island…

The truth about Captain Flint and his fabled death.

The truth about Long John Silver and his coveted wife.

And the truth about Jim Hawkins, that double-dealing turncoat of the first order: The traitor of Treasure Island.

AUTHOR BIO

John Drake trained as a biochemist to post-doctorate research level before realizing he was no good at science. His working career was in the television department of ICI until 1999 when he became a full-time writer. John’s hobby is muzzle-loading shooting, and his interests are British history and British politics (as a spectator), plus newspapers, TV news, and current affairs. He is married with a son and two grandchildren.

The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake

If you are looking for an adventure story involving pirates and treasure, The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake, is that and more. A grand retelling of Stevenson’s Treasure Island that includes a fair portion of the original cast of characters. I found it to be a swash buckling good read!

At the opening of the story the reader is told of a seaman’s chest, that was purchased by the author. It contained the journals of Dr. Livesey, the ship’s physician aboard Hispaniola, the ship from the Treasure Island expedition. The journals reveal the “true” story of what happened. Therefore, it is no surprise that much of the story is told from the POV of Dr. Livesey.

Dr. Livesey gets involved with the expedition by being at the wrong place at the right time. He has been frequenting the Admiral Benbow inn because he is smitten by the wife of the owner. One evening a blind man comes to the inn to find Billy Bones, a regular patron of the inn, and bring him a dire warning. If seems that the infamous Captain Flint is not dead, as what was previously thought, and is coming for Billy and the treasure map he is hiding.

Dr. Livesey takes charge and sends for Squire Trelawney who arrives at the inn, with a group of armed men, just as a fire fight with Flint’s men is ending. Though Flint manages to slip away unharmed, the cat is now out of the bag about the treasure and the Squire sets about purchasing a ship and finding a crew to man her in order to recover the treasure. The Doctor tries to discourage the expedition. However, the Squire insists on it saying he is doing “for the thrill of it”. So ensues the adventure!

This is truly an action and adventure novel. It is totally plot driven, and for those that read my reviews regularly know that I prefer books that are character driven. Not surprising, the plot moves very quickly and the character development is somewhat lacking. I am actually a little surprised how much I enjoyed this book even without the character development I crave. Just goes to show a well written story can overcome other short comings.

As I mentioned above, the character development is lacking. The only character that got the attention deserved was Dr. Livesey. I understood him and his motives well. I saw his devotion to Charlotte and his distaste for her son Jim. I can’t say that for the rest of the characters. It is important to me to understand why a character does something in a story. I hate to be left scratching my head wondering why the heck did he/she do that?

While this was not my favorite style of writing, the story is really good. Don’t let my comments on character development deter you from reading this one. If you love action and adventure stories this is a must read for you. In addition, the quality of the story and the obvious research that went into getting the historical and nautical history correct will also appeal to readers of historical novels. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Final Blackout by L. Ron Hubbard

I knew L. Ron Hubbard was a prolific writer of Science Fiction when he was younger, this being before he founded Scientology. I also knew he was writing around the same time as some of the masters and founders of modern Sci-Fi (such as Asimov) where just coming into their own. Being a lover of Sci-Fi, I was curious to read some of his works. Therefore, it should be no surprise that I came home form BookExpo this year with two of his novels.

This might be the time to remind my readers that even though I receive free books from publishers in exchange for my reviews, all of my opinions are my own. I do not endorse any author’s, publisher’s, agent’s, etc. personal views on politics and/or religion. I read for the sole purpose of entertainment. Either I like a story or I don’t and I always tell my readers what I found to be good and bad about a story. As always, you are welcome to disagree with me.

Now that the house keeping is done, let’s talk about this novella. By definition it is a novella and it is also a dystopian alternative history story. In this story WWII never ended and the conflict continues to drag on decades despite the lack of planes, tanks and other implements of modern warfare. The main character, known only as The Lieutenant, has never known anything but war having been born during the conflict. He is part of what remains of the Fourth Brigade of the British Expeditionary Forces operating in France somewhere. It is a ragtag force at best. They scavenge for food and clothing as they fight and try to out maneuver the Russians.

Communications have been cut with headquarters for four years and he has been operating on his own until one day, out of the blue, a Captain shows up and orders him to return to GHQ to be “reorganized”. He knows this is not a good thing because he failed to appoint a soldier’s council as ordered and is expecting some kind of reprisal. The Caption also tells him that things are not the best in London since the British Communist Party is now the governing body.

As The Lieutenant proceeds to make his way to GHQ he comes to realizes that the war is, for all intents and purposes, over and that, “England and his people were barred to him, had rejected him, perhaps forever.” When he reaches GHQ he is relieved of his command. It seems he is to be replaced by someone that is malleable. In other words, GHQ wants someone to follow them blindly and not question their orders or motivates. This does not sit well with his men and they mutiny. Upon victory The Lieutenant is reinstated and he takes charge of GHQ. He immediate gathers a group of soldiers together to return to England, a place soldiers have been banned from because of the soldier’s disease. What he finds once he returns is nothing that he could have imagined and is not good.

I have mixed feelings on this one. First, this is not my type of book. Too many political overtones and I am sick to death of anything political. Secondly, I did not get enough charter development to suit me. Not surprising since this is an action novel and I have no doubt the author used this as a literature tool. For me it fell a little flat.

I liked the premise of the story but I felt it was a somewhat simplistic look at very complex problems. Yet, at the same time I liked that this book did touch on a lot of philological questions that mankind has been struggling with for a long time. I think Hubbard was still developing as a writer when this was written and it also showed he was a product of his time.

As mentioned above, the plot moved quickly and there was plenty of action. Though there were not a lot of twists to the story and it felt a little predictable. It is a quick read and I read this in one afternoon.

While this is not my cup of tea the book is not without merit. I think it would make a good book for a book club that focuses on political and philological issues as presented in books like Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale. There is a lot of fodder here for a lively discussion. Also, if you like dystopian alternate histories this might make a good fit for you, especially if you ignore the political undercurrent.